title: Chromosomal abnormalities are major prognostic factors in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: the intergroupe francophone du myélome experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chromosomal abnormalities, especially t(4;14) and del(17p), are major prognostic factors in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, this has been especially demonstrated in patients age < 66 years treated with intensive approaches. The goal of this study was to address this issue in elderly patients treated with conventional-dose chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  To answer this important question, we retrospectively analyzed a series of 1,890 patients (median age, 72 years; range, 66 to 94 years), including 1,095 with updated data on treatment modalities and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This large study first showed that the incidence of t(4;14) was not uniform over age, with a marked decrease in the oldest patients. Second, it showed that both t(4;14) and del(17p) retained their prognostic value in elderly patients treated with melphalan and prednisone-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  t(4;14) and del(17p) are major prognostic factors in elderly patients with MM, both for progression-free and overall survival, indicating that these two abnormalities should be investigated at diagnosis of MM, regardless of age.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Toulouse, France. avet-loiseau.h@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avet-Loiseau
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hulin
authors.forename: Loic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodon
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marit
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attal
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Mamoun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Voillat
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouscary
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caillot
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wetterwald
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pegourie
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lepeu
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corront
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karlin
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stoppa
authors.forename: Jean-Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fuzibet
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Delbrel
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guilhot
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Decaux
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lamy
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garderet
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Allangba
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lifermann
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anglaret
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Facon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic